Erik Cole traded to Dallas Stars for Michael Ryder + 3rd round pick!!

IMO this trade confirms that Gionta will not be moved unless we are out of the playoffs at next year's deadline. We need to retain some veteran forwards to do the heavy lifting while the kids develop, and after Kaberle is gone we'll have plenty of cap space.

I don't think size is the issue with Ryder. He's a stocky man and he's got that face of a guy with muscle. It's just that he doesn't use it in a power forward manner. But he's a right winger, and one can hope he replaces Gio on the first line. Of course...he has to earn it first...

Robidas was saying on RDS that Ryder is really fit and in great shape.

Cole was great, wanted him on the team for the playoffs. Woulda been fun. Not many 1st place teams trade a player like him. Slow start, so what. **** that. You want Michael Ryder? Add him to the team, or sign Andrei ****ing Kostitsyn. You wanna get rid of the contract, trade Cole in the offseason, he was coming around, and 4.5 isn't a noose.

Don't like it at all. Ignoring the fact that the production is the same, it's about the team. Cole was a big part of it. Brian Gionta is lucky he's the captain of the team. Can't trade your captain, although a way better move would be to keep Cole and move Gionta.

Welcome Ryder, hope he plays with Max-Pac and DD and shoots the puck all night long. But still, Cole was one of the good guys and I was really proud that he was a Hab. Feels too soon.

IMO this trade confirms that Gionta will not be moved unless we are out of the playoffs at next year's deadline. We need to retain some veteran forwards to do the heavy lifting while the kids develop, and after Kaberle is gone we'll have plenty of cap space.

Any cap relief from moving Gionta would probably be offset by issues in the room. With a relatively young team having guys like Gio Plekanec Gorges Prust around is very valuable. Plus Markov in terms of on ice presence.

IMO this trade confirms that Gionta will not be moved unless we are out of the playoffs at next year's deadline. We need to retain some veteran forwards to do the heavy lifting while the kids develop, and after Kaberle is gone we'll have plenty of cap space.

I don t understand why MB aka Rejean Houle would trade one of his leaders when the team is doing good? Erik Cole is the prototypical power-forward off to a slow start ...who cares! he has 6PTS MP has 14 and Plek 13 wow (only in Montreal) The team has a chance to win now or at least had a chance to win. Who is next ...PK? he's already on the 3rd D line. (I miss Garbo and Gainey)

We were in a rebuilding "phase" last year. If you think MB moves Ryder or Plerkanec before the deadline you are dreaming in colour.

I agree on Perry, if he hits the UFA market, his cap hit wiull end up above 7 mil, probably front loaded over 7 years. 52-55 mil over 7 years(10 10 8 8 8 6 5).

So rebuilding lasts only a year? i'm not saying they'll both be dealt at the deadline. But i maintain that getting a 2013 2nd round pick for Ryder at the deadline would be make the Cole deal even more interesting. Even tough i like him I'd prefer to give some quality time to the prospects next year than signing Ryder. So why not trading him?

As for Pleky he's currently at the top of his value. I can see a lot of established teams that'd be interested in his profile. With 3 years left at 5M per he wouldn't be part of a loan type deal. I truly hope for him to be dealt by the end of next year so we can get some young quality return.

We're certainly not contenders this year, neither will we be next year with Ryder if we sign him. I'm all for trading the Giontas, Plekys to bring some youngers assets and build around the Patchs, Gaclhys, Subbans and co.